Aparan, a small town that is as severe as it is picturesque, lies at the foot of Mount Aragats, Armenia's roof. A small town in the high plateaus, buffeted by the winds, dry and freezing in winter, it is an ideal point of departure for climbing Aragats.

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If someone were to ask you what Steve Jobs, Kim Kardashian and Princess Diana have in common, what would you answer? They are all of Armenian origin... of course! Sometimes more known for its famous expatriates than for itself, Armenia is a multifaceted country still widely unexplored and seldom frequented by Western tourists. But what riches are hidden there! From the capital Yerevan to the emblematic and legendary mountains (Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats), Armenia boasts churches and monasteries listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, a thousand-year-old culture of incredible variety. With a rocky landscape of canyons and high plateaus, 90% of the land is situated above 1000 metres altitude to delight the soul of the lost wayfarer. Traveling in Armenia also means meeting a proud, hospitable and warm people, always overjoyed to be able to share with passing visitors and to assist them in discovering their country and its resources forged over several millennia more intimately. Don’t wait a moment longer, you too can create your tailor-made trip to Armenia. Բարի գալուստ Հայաստան (Bari galust Hayastan or Welcome to Armenia)!

Armenia

Aparan

The symbol of a country which recalls the riches of its history and the bitterness of its defeats.

Mount Ararat

Areni's excellent red wines  are produced in a small village in the south west of the country on the border with Azerbaijan

Areni

The ruin of the Amberd Fortress is 2300 m above sea level; it is a symbolic monument perched on top of a stony setting and at the foot of Mount Aragats. Just next to the Vahramashen church (11th century) is another architectural and scenic gem.

Amberd

Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, Goris is a superb little town  that's well worth the detour.

Goris

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Goris seems lost in this mountainous landscape. I arrived in this town of 20,000 inhabitants a bit by chance, after driving for hours through the sparsely populated, mountainous province of Syunik, in the south of the country. I really liked the town, which has a delightful centre, old stone houses and plenty of sites in the vicinity. In short, I highly recommend Goris as a stopover on the way to <a href="/armenia/">southern Armenia</a> or Iran. It's a great base from which to explore the wonderful Syunik range, local monasteries and nearby natural reserves. No trip to Goris would be complete without sampling the local tipple, 'Oghis', which is made from fruits grown in the region.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, Goris is a superb little town that's well worth the detour.

On the frontier with Nagorno Karabakh, Goris is a small town close to the rocky heights that are lightly covered in vegetation. I wasn't particularly impressed by the town but managed to find what I need to buy in the way of food and equipment for the winter weather. <a href="/armenia/">During a trip to Armenia,</a> I had decided to explore the surroundings. Half an hour from Goris, is Tatev monastery and I certainly wasn't disappointed by this formidable building dominating the cliff. I really enjoyed exploring all the rooms of the monastery which were intact, so you could imagine the monks living in them. I fell in love with one of the secret passages which led out to the moutainside. I also loved the landscapes in the region, especially the Devil's Bridge, a canyon that is so deep the sun never reaches it.

A town without pretensions in the heart of a region that mixes nature and history to perfection.

Many tourist guides present Goris as a city full of charm. So I expected to discover an exceptional place. I admit that once I arrived, I was a little disappointed. Certainly, there are the stone houses, but the city hardly lends itself to wandering around (there really isn't that much pavement and driving is rather sporty), and Soviet urban planning has taken quite a toll. Once you get past your first impression, you realise how lucky you are to be in a city lost in the depths of Armenia. Going to Goris means having access to the authentic Armenia, alternating between the splendour of the past and the uncertainty of the present. In addition, the only way to sleep there is to stay with a local. This is your opportunity to interact with the local population that's always willing to share some good advice. Finally, after some nice encounters, a visit to an abandoned cave dwelling and discovering the local nightlife, I realised that Goris remains one of the most authentic moments of my <a href="/armenia/">stay in Armenia</a>.

Goris is a town in southeastern Armenia with grey stone houses and ornate wooden balconies giving it a unique character.

Goris Vacations

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